Letter: Raise the minimum wage to give low-wage workers a raise

The low minimum wage is a problem in the city. During the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama mentioned how he would like to see minimum wage increase to $10 an hour. Realistically, no one can live on $8 an hour.

The low minimum wage is a problem in the city. During the State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama mentioned how he would like to see minimum wage increase to $10 an hour. Realistically, no one can live on $8 an hour.

Even as a full-time worker at 40 hours a week, that is $320 a week before taxes get taken out. That's $1,280 a month. When taxes get taken out that's less than $1,000 being made to pay bills, support families, and to support oneself. I agree with President Obama's concern on minimum wage because barely anyone can make a living.

Many people state how high the rate of homelessness is but how can homelessness be diminished if jobs with low pay are sometimes the cause of homelessness? Or how about college students? How are us college students supposed to put ourselves through college or purchase books when one book is more than what one week's paycheck would give us? Education is important to us. So is trying to support ourselves.